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What to do about rats

susananwmssusananwms Posts: 213
in Problem solving
When I took over my garden in a short time I started feeding the birds which I have done constantly over last 3 years.  I first saw a rat about 18 months ago but thought. if he kept out of my way I would keep out of his.But have now seen it in daylight hours and in past 3 weeks have seen quite a big one (do not know if same one) come out and eat the seed scattered from the feeders. On advice I have removed the food source and water (from the bird baths) but now it actually came up on to the patio looking for the food.  I have been in touch with pest control and they want to put poison down.  I have looked into it and found that the rats take up to 3 days to die.  This seems so cruel to me.  Does anyone know of a more humane method of dealing with this
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  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Adopt a terrier.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,569
    I've had the same problem. 
    " they take 3 days to die" means it takes 3 days for the poison to work. I think the actual dying process is quicker ( from internal bleeding I believe) 

    As you can see , mine were more than happy to be out and about during the day, but I took the bait in at night so Spikey the hedgehog wouldn't be tempted by it.
    First dead rat spotted on the lane outside our house today, hopefully the other will be dead too.
    Devon.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,910
    You can get humane traps but the problem is what to do with them after you've caught them. 
    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • SussexsunSussexsun Posts: 1,444
    Look for their nest. They like dry sheltered spots and give it a good soaking with the garden hose. Do this several times and the rats will move on as they don’t like to live in a damp environment.
    If you want to feed the birds invest in squirrel proof feeders as you will get less dropped food and the rats won’t be able to get to it either.
    To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    @Hostafan1 that rat looks huge!!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,131
    They breed 'em big in Devon shock

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,569
    and that  included the rats
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,131
     ;) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 22,876
    I’m not big😱😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,931

    raisingirl said:
    You can get humane traps but the problem is what to do with them after you've caught them. 
    I use a .22 air rifle. :|
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
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